Denture



March 23, 19 u. s. WALTON 2,31 6 4 DENTURE Filed Nov. 4, i941 3m 0:5.n aZZa 4 Patented Mar. 23, 1943 U N l '1! E '3 STA? ii @FiiCE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to dentures.

An object of this invention is to provide a means for improving the construction of dentures whereby the marginal edges thereof may be reinforced so that the body of the denture may be made out of initially plastic material which may be made of lighter construction than has heretofore been possible.

Another object of this invention is to provide 1 1a denture such a a plate .ameta l c reinforcins ed e which is constructed of dental m t and Which may be readily formed to the contour of the plate.

A further object of this invention is to provide a metallic reinforcing .edge for a denture and an improved means for retaining the reinforcing edge on the marginal portions of the plate.

A further object of this invention is to provide a moldable metallic reinforcing edge for the marginal portions of a denture including a tie element embedded in the denture for tying adjacent metallic edge portions together to thereby prevent movement of the edge portions and also prevent spreading of the denture.

A further object of this invention is to provide a denture with a reinforcing edge portion which is so constructed that it may be formed in a dental laboratory without additional tools or equipment.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved method of forming a denture wherein the reinforcing metallic edge may be initially formed or molded from the plaster cast and subsequently combined with the denture while the latter is in a plastic state.

To the foregoing objects and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detail top plan of a denture embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation partly broken away and in section of the denture,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing the numeral in designates generally a denture which in the present instance is in the form of an lower plate 'havinga body generally designated as H in which teeth 12 are embedded. The body H is herein shown as a lower plate, but it Will be understood that the hereinafter described invention may be used with an upperplate or denture or a fragmentary plate or denture,

The body I! is substantially .U-shaped in ale-- vation and is also U-shaped in transverse section. The body .H includes an outer longitudinally and transversely arcuate wall l3, an inner longitudinally and transversely arcuate Wall is and a bottom wall or bight 15. The body 1! is preferably constructed out of initially plastic material which may be either a rubber compound or other suitable phenol resin composition which may be molded or cast in the desired configuration to properly fit the jaw of the individual.

In order to provide a means whereby the outer and inner walls l3 and M respectively of the denture may be formed relatively thin so as to provide for a substantially light weight plate or denture, I have provided a metallic. reinforcing rim or edge member generally designated as IS. The edge member He is preferably formed out of dental metal which may be suitably molded or cast or otherwise shaped to conform closely to the configuration of the body I I. The reinforcing member l6 includes an outer reinforcing member I! of substantially U-shape in plan which is connected to an inner U-shaped reinforcing member 18 by means of a pair of arcuate connecting members l9 so as to thereby form a continuous metal rim or reinforcing member about the marginal edge portions of the body H. The outer reinforcing member I! at substantially the center or bight of the denture is formed with a substantially V-shaped forward portion 20 which is adapted to conform to the configuration of the outer wall H3 at the forward end or side of the body II.

In order to provide a means whereby the re inforcing member I6 may be firmly held on the marginal portions of the body II, I have provided a plurality of spaced apart arcuate anchoring members 2!. The anchoring members 2| are formed of metal which is preferably of the same make as the metal forming the reinforcing members Il, I8, and l9. The anchoring members 2| are constructed in the form of open loops which have their free ends 22 connected with or formed integral with the lower sides of the reinforcing members I! and I8. The anchoring members 2| are substantially thinner than the thickness of the reinforcing members I! and I8, so that these anchoring members M will be entirely embedded within the material forming the outer and inner walls of the body I I as'shown more clearly in termined the anchoring members 2| may be se a cured to the reinforcing members I1 and I8 so as to provide a substantially integral structure. A combined connecting and reinforcing member 23 is connected at one end to the bight 24 of the inner U-shaped reinforcing member I8 and is connected at the other end thereof to the V-shaped member 20 formed at the bight of the reinforcing member IT. The combined connecting and reinforcing member 23 is adapted to be substantially entirely embedded Within the bight of the body I I, and the combined connecting and reinforcing member 23 is of longitudinally arouate configuration as shown in Figure 3, and conforms closely to the configuration of the body II at the inner side thereof. The combined connecting and reinforcing member 23 provides a means whereby the reinforcing members I1 and I8 are held against movement relative to the edges of the outer and inner walls I3 and I4 respectively and also provides a means whereby the outer and inner walls I3 and I4 are braced against spreading or contracting.

The reinforcing member hereinbefore described is of such a character and construction that it may be easily and quickly formed in the dental laboratory without any additional tools and with the equipment and material now available in the laboratory. Furthermore, by forming the reinforcing member I6 out of dental metal or the like the reinforcing member I! can be accurately formed to the exact configuration of the denture. Also by providing for the anchoring of the reinforcing member I 6 with respect to the plastic denture body H the reinforcing member will be firmly held against movement relative to the denture body, in addition to being capable of being accurately shaped to conform to the configuration of the denture body H about the marginal edges of the latter.

The reinforcing member II may be made out of gold, silver, alloy, or other dental material, forming a metallic rim or marginal edge portion which will prevent cracking of the walls forming the denture I I. In this manner the denture body I I may be made out of either rigid or partly rigid material which may have a degree of resiliency, and the reinforcing material will constantly maintain the denture body II in the desired configuration.

What I claim is:

A denture comprising a tray-like body formed of initially plastic material, a moldable metallic reinforcing member molded aroundthe marginal edges of said body, and a plurality of anchoring loops fixed to said member and embedded in said body. 7

' ULYSSES S. WALTON. 

